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COMBINING HAND AND MACHINE PIECING

I took photos while I was sewing my first Celestial Star “Color Burst” unit, so I can show one way to construct this complex block by combining hand and machine piecing. I call it “hybrid” piecing.

Like most quilters, I won’t live long enough to make all the quilt designs that intrigue me.

I love a portable project and I want to spend my time carefully, so I often combine hand and machine piecing in a hybrid.

I examine the block carefully to decide which seams to sew by hand and which seams to sew by machine.

Often it depends on how much “continuous stitching” I can find—and Celestial Star is a gold mine!

CONTINUOUS STITCHING

Continuous stitching is one of my favorite things about hand piecing. At the end of every seam, before I cut the thread, I look to see if I could continue just by turning a corner.

I have written about continuous stitching many times before, including in Quilted Diamonds (2002), Quilted Diamonds 2 (book and DVD, 2004) and in videos on YouTube, etc.

“Inset seams” are the ones that are perfect for continuous stitching—the same ones quilters historically avoid by machine, so the seams divide into two separate categories.

(By the way, there is no need to avoid insets when you machine piece with Inklingo.)

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

Continuous stitching is so relaxing and enjoyable that I often plan my route in advance on a diagram of the block.

Hand piecing this way is a “zen” experience. It is totally relaxing with a sense of well-being AND it is an efficient way to work, so I can finish in a reasonable amount of time.

In the Color Burst unit for Celestial Star, there are seams that don’t work well for continuous stitching (red lines, above).

CHAIN PIECE FOR A FAST START

The good news is that in this case, the seams that don’t work well for continuous stitching DO work well for chain piecing by machine, so that was my starting point.

Wow. Is this fast! I pinned at the END of the seam, so I could stop in the crosshair.

There is a video showing how to sew crosshair to crosshair by machine on the Main Hexagon Page on the website. (The example is Grandmother’s Flower Garden, but it works the same way for any design.)

Sometimes I sew edge to edge. In this case, I sewed from edge to crosshair. Sometimes I sew from crosshair to edge. It works either way, so it’s up to you. Why not try it both ways, to see what you prefer?

I could have continued with more machine piecing but that was enough to give me a fast start.

A few minutes of chain piecing set me up for a couple of hours of continuous stitching by hand in a comfy chair watching TV.

RELAX WITH RHYTHMIC HAND PIECING

Several different sequences are possible. I started by sewing these 8 three-piece units.

I like to plan my route to maximize the continuous stitching, so I never sew fewer than two seams before breaking the thread.

Then I added all these units to the Octagon with 8 starts and stops.

In theory, I could add this entire ring of pentagons without stopping, if the thread was long enough. (Thread should only be 12 -15 inches long.)

This is just one example. You might prefer different routes.

If you are just learning how to hand piece, every detail is covered in the two-hour hand piecing lesson on the Quilted Diamonds 2 DVD. It is a great book, even if you don’t expect to make the diamond patterns. I have also put free hand piecing videos on YouTube.

I continue working my way out from the center, row by row.

You could go all the way around with one super-long thread! (Not recommended. LOL)

By printing with Inklingo, fussy cutting with freezer paper templates, and combining hand and machine piecing, I was able to sew this Color Burst block in a few hours.

I don’t think you can tell which seams were sewn by hand and which were sewn by machine.

Every intersection is perfect and it presses beautifully with the seam allowances twirled around most of the intersections.

I could have spent this much time just basting or gluing but there are too many more of Sharon’s designs I want to make to spend my time that way!

I have extended the offer until the 17th. If you donate at least $15 to the American Red Cross between September 3 and September 17 and email me (linda @ lindafranz.com), I will give you the new Clamshell Edges 3.5 inch shape collection, FREE.

Have you chosen fabric for Celestial Star yet?

Linda & Monkey

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Main Beginner’s Page There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

The shapes in Celestial Star are SO tempting, but I’m doing my very best to resist until I finish making ribbon flowers! When I finally do get a start on this, I think I will do some hybrid piecing – just to get it done more quickly and get back to some curved piecing.
As a confirmed hand piecer who learned everything I needed to make my hand piecing better and better from the Quilted Diamonds 2 book and lesson on the DVD, I wanted to leave a comment about how invaluable they are for anyone just getting into hand piecing or, for that matter, for anyone who wants some of the very best tips and lessons to be had. There is nothing better than that book and the lesson on the DVD!!! Plus the DVD is so well done – very, very professional and relaxing to watch and listen! It truly is like having a one-on-one lesson in person with you. It really is a master class on hand piecing!